Kelly Ripa to Serve as Grand Marshall for NYC's Village Halloween Parade

The New York City's Village Halloween Parade today announced Kelly Ripa, co-host of the nationally Syndicated morning talk show "LIVE with Kelly and Michael," will be the Grand Marshall of this year's 40 th Anniversary Parade. In appreciation for the time and effort that Ripa spent raising funds and awareness for Superstorm Sandy relief, the Halloween Parade committee has selected her as a Grand Marshall.

As Grand Marshall, Ripa will lead the Parade down 6 th Avenue on a float that is honoring those men and women who helped the people of New York City during this devastating time, as well as the amazing organ transplant team at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. The float is sponsored by Rubie's Costume Company, the world's largest designer, manufacturer and distributor of Halloween costumes and accessories. With Rubie's help, the Parade will truly be able to honor those who deserve recognition for the assistance they provided during this devastating time.

"We have been taking our children to the Halloween Parade since they were born. This is a good vantage point because they are too big to sit on our shoulders! I am very proud to be a part of this event. The work to bring to Sandy Relief is never done," said Ripa.

"Like those who came to the rescue after Sandy last year, Rubie's has come to the rescue of the Halloween Parade this year, making possible this Parade float that embodies the spirit of this year's theme: Revival! Rubie's generosity of spirit matches that of everyone who helped with Sandy and who save lives through organ donation and transplantation, including the donors and team at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center," said Parade Director, Jeanne Fleming. "We are thrilled to have such culturally minded, local sponsors keeping this great NYC tradition alive."

Last year, for the first time in the Parade's history, the iconic event was cancelled due to Superstorm Sandy. The last minute cancellation put the parade, a not-for-profit arts organization, $50,000 in debt leaving this year's 40 th Anniversary in jeopardy. In an effort to recover the financial losses, the Parade launched a Kickstarter campaign on September 17 th, asking the public to help them raise the necessary monies to assure that the Parade will Go On and that its 40 th Anniversary will be the best to date.

For more information on how to become involved New York City's Village Halloween Parade, please visit: www.halloween-nyc.com/.